Wire-stretcher.



G. A. COLE.

WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLICATION rum) MAILIB. 191s.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

Witnesses Attorneys GEORGE A. COLE, OF SANBORN, IOWA.

WIRE-STRETCI-IER.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Nov. 18,1913.

Application filed March 13, 1913. Serial No. 754,165.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnoncn A. Cow, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sanborn, in the county of OBrien and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful fire-Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to wire stretchers, and aims to provide a novel and improved device for stretching the wires of fences.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an appliance of the character lll(llcatod, which may be attached to a fence post, and to which the wires or strands may be attached, the appliance being manually aetuable to wind up the wires so as to stretch them or draw them taut.

It is also the object of the present inveir tion to provide a device of the character indicated which shall be comparatively simple, durable, substantial and inexpensive in con struction, which shall be efficient, convenient and serviceable in its use, and which shall be readily applicable to various posts with equal propriety and effect.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a top view or plan of the de vice as in use. Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the carriers. Fig. 4c is a perspective view of a wrench employed for actuating the shaft.

In carrying out the invention, reference being had in detail to the drawing, there is provided an upright shaft 5 of any suitable length and cross section. This shaft is supported at its upper and lower ends by a pair of carriers, which are attachable to the fence post or other upright. Each of the carriers embodies a collar forming a bearing 6 through which the shaft is journaled, and having a short radial shank 7 provided with a slot 8 therein, and a shoe 9 attached integrally to the shank, the respective end of the shank being attached to the shoe adjoining the heel of the shoe. The shoe 9 is preferably curved or arcuate in form, with its forward end pointed, and having the spur or tooth 10 at its heel. An arcuatc arm 11 has its butt end pivoted or fulcrumed' within the slot 8 of the shank 7 intern'iediate the shoe and bearing by means of a rivet or pivot pin 12, and is provided at its free end with a spin or tooth 13, both of the spurs 10 and 13 projecting inwardly. The arm 11 projects in a direction opposite that of the toe of the shoe. The upper and lower ends of the shaft 5 are thus journaled to the respective bearings 6, the upper end of the shaft being squari as at 1 1, for the reception or engagement of a suitable wrench, such as illustrated in Fig. l, for convenience in manually rotating the shaft.

lhe several parts are preferably fashioned from metal and may be readily manufactured and assembled, the device being relatively simple, substantial and inexpensive.

In use, the carriers are attached to the post toward which the wires are to be drawn, the shoes 9 being brought against one side of the post, so that the spurs 10 engage the post, and the arms 11 being swung so that the spurs 13 engage the opposite side of the post, so as to constrain the device from turning about the post.

In applying each of the carriers or anchors to the fence post, the spurs 10 and 13 are first applied to opposite sides of the post, so that the toe of the shoe is spaced from the respective side of the post. Then, as tension is applied to the shaft, or by manually swinging the hearing or collar 6 forwardly, or to the left as viewed in Fig. 1, the shoe will be swung upon its heel spur 10 as a fulcrum, whereby the toe of the shoe will strike the post. lVhen the bearing and its shoe are thus swung, it will be evident that the shank 7 will be swung in such a manner as to carry the pivot or fulcrum pin 12 of the arm 11 forwardly, and consequently. the spurs 10 and 13 will be drawn or forced toward each other so as to enter or bite the post. The arm 7 is swung in such a manner as to carry the pivot or fulcrum pin 12 1nto a line passing through the spurs 10 and 13, so as to lock, or assist in looking the carrier or anchor to the post. Attention is directed to the fact, that when the spur 10 lies in a line connecting the spur 13 and the axis of the pin 12, the device will be at dead center, or in other words, the spurs 10 and 13 will be brought together as far as possible. It will therefore be manifest that when the toe of the shoe is swung against the side of the post, the post will be tightly clamped between the spurs, and the pin 12 being carried with the shank 7 into or beyond a line passing through the spurs, will cause the carrier to be locked on the post. As soon as the pin 12 is swung beyond dead center, as above indicated, it will be evident that the spurs 10 and 18 will start to separate, due to the tension created by the clamping action,

which will not only further tend to lock the parts in position, but to swing the shoe in such a manner that the toe of the shoe will bear tightly against the post.

The foregoing features are particularly true when the device is employed'in connection with the standard size of post, or a post for which the device is particularly adapted, it being understood, of course, that the present device may be constructed in various sizes to accommodate various posts with the same facility and success.

The fence wires have their ends engaged through the respective apertures 16 of the shaft 5, and then by rotating the shaft throughthe medium of a wrench, such as illustrated in Fig. 4, or the like, the Wires may be wound upon the shaft. As a consequence, the wires'will be stretched or drawn taut, and in which event, they may be stapled or fastened to the respective posts over which they have been drawn. It is also possible to draw the wires around the post to which the device is attached, by properly positioning the device, as will be understood, although this is not necessary, especially if an anchor post is employed for the device. After the wires have been stapled or fastened to the respective posts, the shaft 5 may be liberated, so that the ends of the wires may be unwound, and then detached fronithe shaft, this permitting the device to be detached from the post.

The pivoted arms 11 permit the device to be attached to various sizes and contours of posts, such as circular or square posts, and the device has a considerable latitude and application.

The device may be employed for divers purposes, as will be apparent, and as a whole, provides a desirable appliance of its kind.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A carrier embodying a collar forming a shaft bearing having a short radial shank, and provided with a curved shoe attached intermediate its ends to the free end of the shank and having a post engaging spur at its heel, and an arcuate arm fulcrumed to the shank intermediate the shoe and bearing, and projecting in a direction opposite that of the toe of the shoe, the arm having a post engaging spur at its free end, the spurs being adapted to engage opposite sides of a post, and the shoe being adapted to be swung upon its heel spur as a fulcrum so that the toe of the shoe strikes the post, as and for the purposes described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. COLE.

WVitnesses F. L. INMAN, R. J. RooRDA.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

